Paper Rafts on Lava Rivers

"We sail our paper rafts on lava rivers, hoping laws of nature don’t apply to us, that flames do not devour our dreams or give birth to new demons, and we fight to stay afloat long enough to reach the truth." Paper Rafts on Lava Rivers is a book of poetry that not only explores the vulnerabilities of the human spirit but also the power of resiliency and hope. Drawing heavily on metaphor, imagery and character, the poems address topics ranging from parenthood to the classroom, everyday life and world events. The collection documents a journey through an uncertain world of shifting tectonic plates, the trials of lava rivers, and finally, the redemption of fireweed.

Paul Beckermann is a teacher at Dassel-Cokato High School and an adjunct professor at Saint Cloud State University in central Minnesota. He was a teacher of English and creative writing for 18 years and has worked the last 9 years as a media and digital learning specialist. Paul has published many poems in small press publications across the United States as well as two short stories in the anthology Stories Teachers Tell. In addition to his passion for writing, Paul is an avid golfer, photographer, musician and song writer. Paul has two children, Bryant and Kaysha, and lives with his wife, Pamela, in Dassel, MN.